Could the Southern-Kurtalan Express be as Popular as the Eastern Express? Comparative SWOT Analysis
Abstract
Train tourism can play a critical role in the development of the tourism potential of the cities, such as increasing the tourism potential of the cities, economic contribution, reducing the differences in the level of development between regions, and employment in the cities where the railway line passes, and thus in the development of the country’s tourism potential. This situation occurred in the cities of the route where the Eastern Express passed. Therefore, the aim of this research is to present a comparative SWOT framework on whether the Southern-Kurtalan Express has the potential to be popular like the Eastern Express, and to explore the perception and behavioral tendencies of travelers towards the Southern-Kurtalan Express. While conducting interviews with 30 participants to create a SWOT matrix for the Southern-Kurtalan Express, the SWOT matrix for the Eastern Express was compiled from the relevant literature. Comparing the data from the participants and the SWOT matrices compiled from the literature, it can be deduced that the Southern-Kurtalan Express is as strong as the Eastern Express and even has more advantages but has similar weaknesses and that the Southern-Kurtalan Express faces significant opportunities as well as similarly wider threats. In this regard, the Southern-Kurtalan Express has a high potential to be as popular as the Eastern Express, but success can be achieved if all stakeholders act together to determine strategies for reducing the threat width and improving the potential.
Keywords
Southern-Kurtalan Express , Eastern Express , Train Tourism , Rail Tourism.
Kaynakça
- Afrch (Alisan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage). (2022). https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/EN/0000103, accessed 22.10.2022.
- Afshardoost, M., & Eshaghi, M. S. (2020). Destination image and tourist behavioural intentions: A meta-analysis. Tourism Management, 81, 104154.
- Alkan, A. (2018). Alternatif bir turizm rotası: Kurtalan Ekspresi. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 6(4), 1016-1038.
- Altunışık, R., Boz, H., Gegez, E., Koç, E., Sığrı, Ü., Yıldız, E. & Yüksel, A. (2022). Sosyal bilimlerde araştırma yöntemleri: Yeni perspektifler (Araştırma yöntemleri, yeni uygulamalar, bakış açıları). Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık.
- Bayat, G. (2021). Turistik Doğu Ekspres tren yolculuğunun değerlendirilmesi. Türk Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(2), 783-798.
- Bayraktar, Y., & Selçuk, G. N. (2022). Train tourism in the context of experiential tourism: The example of the touristic Eastern Express travel. Journal of Tourism and Gastronomy Studies, 10(2), 1436-1463. Bergenline. (2022). https://www.vy.no/en/traffic-and-routes/stations-and-network-maps/the-bergen-line, accessed 21.10.2022.
- Bernia. (2022). https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/bernina-express, accessed 22.10.2022.
- Bingöl, S. & Kozak-Akoğlan, M. (2020). Turistik tren yolculuklarına nostaljik yaklaşım: Doğu, Güney Kurtalan ve Van Gölü Ekspresleri. Journal of Recreation and Tourism Research, 7(3), 325-349.
- Blancheton, B., & Marchi, J. J. (2013). The three systems of rail tourism: French case. Tourism Management Perspectives, 5, 31-40.
- Buluk, B., & Eşitti, B. (2019). Batıdan doğuya yavaş seyahat: Doğu ekspresinin Kars’ın sürdürülebilir turizm gelişimine etkisi. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 5(2), 159-176.